Steam land-cakkiage



No. 28,955. PATENTED JULY 3, 1860 `1 G. H. BAKER. STEAM CARRIAGE FOR COMMON ROADS.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1. I l

No. 28,955. PATENTED JULY 3, 1860.

C. E. BAKER.

ASTEAM CARRIAGE POR COMMON ROADS.

al SHEETS-SHEET z.

No. 28,955. PATENTED JULY 3, 1860.

C. H. BAKER.

.STEAM CARRIAGE POR COMMON ROADS.

UNIT: STATS FFICE.

CHARLES H. BAKER, OF RED YVING, MINNESOTA.

STEAM LAND-CARRIAGE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

rBe it known that I, CHARLES H. BAKER, of the town of Red Ving, in the county of Goodhue and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Carriages for Common Roads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and marks thereon. Y

My improvements are specially designed to overcome some lof the objections heretofore existing against the use of steam carriages on common roads arising out of the difficulties voccurring from ascending and descending hills, traveling over uneven snrfaces, and turning from the one road to another or in the one road particularlyin the curves or windings thereof.

My invention relates first to an arrangement of means for connecting the engine to the frame or body of the carriage; and 2nd to an arrangement of means for allowing the inside wheel to accommodate itself to the movements of the carriage in turning.

The drawings forming part of this specification show, by Figure 1 a side view of a steam carriage having my improvementsor so much of a steam carriage as it is necessary to show to exhibit my improvements; by Fig. 2, a top view, or a view taken looking down upon such carriage; by Fig. 3, a view of the rear of the carriage; by Fig. t, a view of a section of the back part of the carriage, such section being in a vertical line; and by Figs. 5, and 6, views in detail of parts involved in the turning motions of the carriage.

In each of these figures where like parts are indicated like letters are used.

I carry out the first part of my invention by placing' around the shaft (a) of the driving wheels (b) a ring (o), which lies loose between the hub (d), and the toothed wheel (e), rigidly attached to the driving wheel. From the ring (c) extend radial arms which pass through holes (g) in the driving wheels, these holes terminating in recesses (L) in the surface of the wheel, so that they will be protected by the tread part of the wheel and thus not be liable to be clogged by stones or earth. The points of attachment between the spokes (j) of the driving wheels and the toothed wheel (e) limit the play of the loose ring A friction roller (7;) Fig. 4, on the end of the crank-arin (Z), which crank-arm is affixed to the shaft (m), may be forced against the inner surface of the ring (c), and thus make the points or outward ends of the arms project beyond the tread of wheel and into the earth, so that the slipping of the wheels will be entirely avoided and the carriage readily be moved yup or down hill with perfect convenience and safety. The shaft is sustained in bearings (0) on the inner end of the engine frame and has attached to it a lever to be operated by the hand of the conductor or engineman, or it may be so arranged as to be operated by the engine, the usual means being employed for'throwing it in or out of gear with the engine.

I carry out the second part of my invention by having the frame (Q) of the engine connected to the driving wheels shaft (a) by a collar or short cylinder (r) attached to eachfront'end of the lbars ('s) of the frame, which collars play around shaft (a); and by having the rear bar (t) of the frame o-f the engine suspended by a pin to the central part of a cross-bar (o), the ends of this cross-bar being also suspended in projecting pieces (w) extending down from the rear end bar of the carriage frame. Thus the rear end of the engine frame is connected to the carriage-frame by a universal joint, while the front end is attached to the main shaft by a joint which permits vertical motion, 0r motion of the front end of the frame around the shaft (a), giving to the engine frame easy bearings upon the carriage and preventing the injury by the travel over uneven surfaces which would occur if the engine frame was rigidly con-i nected to the carriage frame. g

I carry out the third part of my invention thus: Each end (y) of the crank-shaft (a) of the engine is expanded, or larger at the end than it is elsewhere, and the pinion (.e) of this shaft, which gears into the toothed wheel (c) on the driving wheel, is kept up even with the end of the crankshaft by a spring (g/) acting against a flanged collar (00') which forces the pinion outward. The inner end of the spring (y) bears against a collar ('w) around the crank-shaft, a pin (41')v preventing this collar from being moved by the action of the spring. wWhen these means are in the position here named the pinion Will be at the end of the shaft and in full gear with the toothed wheel and on the turning of the carriage the pinion and toothed wheel of the inner side would bind. To obviate this binding I provide means for allowing the pinion to slip down upon the contracted part of the shaft and thus to have play, and these provisional means I operate by the guidinoor steering apparatus. A vertical shaft a) placed in bearings (b) (b) is the operative shaft of the guiding or steering apparatus. Around this shaft passes a cord or wire rope (0) also passing around pulleys (d), and is attached to the guiding yoke (e). By the side of the upper bars of the carriage frame and placed in guides (f) (f) are wedge-bars (g) (g) which at their front ends (h) (L) are attached to the cord or rope (c). Between the rear ends of these bars (g) and the side bars of the carriage frame is a forked plate the lower end of which is so affixed to an arm (j) of the engine frame as to have a little play. 'Ihe inner faces of these forked plates lie against the outer faces of the flange of the-collars When, therefore the steering apparatus of the carriage is operated th'e wedge-bars (g) are moved, and that bar which is on the inner side of the carriage being drawn forward the back end of the wedge bar forces inward the arms of the forked plate pressing inward the flanged collar m) and allowing the pinion (zz to slide down upon the contracted part of the crank-shaft and have play. The devices or means of this part of the carriage are best shown by Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

Although I have not shown or described i any part of the carriage for containing or holding passengers or freight it is obvious that such part can easily be aHXed to the frame of the carriage, or that the steam carriage can be attached to another carriage for freight or passengers; and it is also obvious that one or more of the different parts of the invention herein set forth may be applied to other carriages propelled by steam, or even to steam plows.

Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The arrangement of means set forth for connecting the engine frame to the frame or body of the carriage.

2. The arrangement of means set forth for allowing the inside wheel to accommodate itself to the movements of the carriage in turning.

This speciiication signed this 6th day of April 1860.

CHARLES H. BAKER. lVitnesses:

WM. W. PHELPS, i E. L. BAKER. 

